Friday, September 28, 2012

Lucky Day Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago I attempted to attend the online Craftcast presentation called “More I Love Tools”. It was live demonstrations by several artists and the subject was their favorite tools for jewelry making. I could never get the audio to work on my laptop or on my iPad, so I had to leave the class. I was so disappointed! The next morning I get an email from my friend Molli Koltun that I had won a prize during the presentation the night before! Oh boy! How lucky am I? Actually, I was very lucky that day and I should have bought a lottery ticket. In my mail I found an envelope from the North Carolina Department of Revenue and I thought for sure I was being audited. No! There was a check for $100 because somebody (either me or my accountant) made an error on my 2011 tax return. But, I digress… where was I? Oh, yeah, I won something. So I emailed Alison Lee, the brains behind the Craftcast presentations, and told her about my sound issues and that I wasn’t able to attend the live broadcast. In order not to spoil the surprise she only told me that I’d won something during Wanaree Tanner’s presentation and that I could watch a video of the entire presentation shortly.

I’m not good at being patient, but I finally got to watch the 5-part series on YouTube. Wanaree’s favorite tool is the Silhouette Cameo machine (an electronic cutting tool) and she demonstrated how to use it to create a texture in Scratch Foam. This machine plugs in to your computer and usually uses a small blade to cut materials like paper or vinyl. Wanaree had an embossing tool in place of the cutter and that made the impressions in the Scratch Foam. Then she engraved some words directly into dry metal clay. Very cool!

Then she announced that I was the winner of the Silhouette Starter Guide and a collection of Wanaree’s bezel wire designs, a package worth $60! Wah, wha, wha…. I don’t have a Silhouette Cameo machine! And, as I look towards the end of my career and to retirement, I’m really not interested in investing in a high-dollar tool. Darn. But it was still an honor to have won!

The bezel wire designs also come with instructions on how to alter the patterns to fit your stones and a shrinkage and resizing chart. Here are some examples of the bezels:

This is where I actually get to the point of this post: I am re-gifting these items to one lucky winner!! If you have, or plan to purchase a Silhouette Cameo machine you should enter this contest. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling everyone what you love about this machine. Who knows, maybe I'll be convinced to buy one after all. The contest starts today and on Monday, October 15 I will select a random winner from all the entries. Good luck!

31 comments:

okay, Zoe! you sold me. I'm getting this machine. I've been looking into something like this for awhile. The Circuit always seemed "too crafty" but this looks like a formidable that I could use for metal clay and my other mixed media passions. I missed the "tools" episode too. So I'm off to visit Alison Lee too. Count me in. on another note ~ retiring? silly girl, you don't retire from being an artist. It's in you. xo

I just bought the silhouette from Wanree! I have a stone on my bench that is begging for a custom bezel. I just opened the silhouette box, so hopefully I can make something soon. Thanks for the give away Zoe!

Ooh! That is soo generous of you. I am sure quite a few of us were jealous of you when we heard you won the fabulous prize:)

Being a tool junkie, I bought the Silhoutte cameo just a few weeks ago but dont have Wanaree's wonderful bezel designs...I am dreaming about making bezels using copper and Silver metal clays (have about 6 gorgeous stones sitting on my desk) and would LOVE to have these designs to help!!

I bought a Sil a few months ago and haven't used it much but I love it because it can do soooo many things. I saw this morning how you can use it to cut out a lovely design for glass etching. It's an awesome, all around tool.

This is a wonderful gift Zoe! I was lucky enough to win one of Wanaree's hardcopy books & that was enough to convince me to buy a Sil from her! While I haven't used it much for metal clay, I love how versatile it is for templates, stencils, drawing, engraving and a ton of more things that I haven't even mentioned. Crossed fingers here! :)

I almost accidentally got my Silhouete Cameo at the PMC conference and I've adored it everyday since! I think I've done more non-jewelry cuts: banner, etched glasses, heat transfer flowers on a plain canvas bag, and boxes for my 14k Rose Gold Clay and 18k Green Gold Clay, then jewelry cuts: two bezel rings, one lantern bead, and 18 bead wraps! I've got more stones lined up to bezel set! But I want to make some super hero drink glasses for me (wonder woman) and my husband (captain America)! Having a blast with this tool! Still need to do the scratch foam!!!

I agree with Cherylyn - if you are retiring, you are just getting started! A great time for a new tool...I took Wanaree's class in KC (get to one as soon as you can!) and my fav thing about the Silhouette is it takes designs YOU input, no extra cartridges to buy, it is versatile (paper, vinyl, clay, scratch foam, polymer clay...) and it comes with guru's like Wanaree to spur us on to greatness.

Thank you so much for sharing and your magnanimous offer. I would so love to have this machine. Not just for ornAte and detailed bezels but it's varied other applications like appliqué technique and cutting gold foil as demonstrated by wanaree.

Thanks for this awesome giveaway! I attended the More I Love Tools, and have to say I was disappointed when I didn't win the Silhouette Cameo accessories since I was just getting ready to buy the Cameo. I am so excited about this tool, and would be thrilled to win this package!

My two wonderful children bought me a Cameo from Wanaree for my birthday. I have cut paper things with it and made some scratch foam molds - awesome! I have been playing with making some bezels, but need to work on it some more. Really a great tool - you might want to change your mind!

I have a Silhouette and just took Wanaree's bezel cutting class which was wonderful! Using Wanaree's bezel patterns make alot of sense so you can practice with proven patterns before you start designing. You'll have a better idea of what works and what you should avoid.

It's great that you are passing your good luck along. Here's hoping your good deed will gain you more good karma!

I have a Silhouette and just took Wanaree's bezel cutting class which was wonderful! Using Wanaree's bezel patterns make alot of sense so you can practice with proven patterns before you start designing. You'll have a better idea of what works and what you should avoid.

It's great that you are passing your good luck along. Here's hoping your good deed will gain you more good karma!

In a month I'll be buying a Silhouette, it's a big expense for me and there will be a lot to learn, so I hesitated for a long time. But now I have a purpose, a really big one. My friend has this dream of a perfect ingagement ring with a pattern she once drawn, so difficult and tiny I didn't figure out how to make it untill I saw this Silhouette machine! Just when I started to think about it, my friend lost her job. Her fiance does not make enought money for both of them, so she made a big life decision and joined the army!! She's now in her training, away across the country, and her fiance is worried about their life together after that. He asked me for this ring now, as a symbol, something special that will keep reminding her of the life and passions they shared together. I have to make that ring! So I'll buy the machine and do my best, but I'll need training and this set you offered so generously would be a big help. I hope there's an angel watching over this crazy task, maybe that angel is You :)

Well I'm staring at my Cameo and am afraid to try again, have tried numerous designs, I believe they have been too intricate and I need to think SIMPLE....So I have some copper ready, dried with glycerin and am stumped. Would love to have the bezzels you won so I could get an idea of what the heck I should expect? Congratulations and if the contest is not closed yet, please consider me! Thanks Sheila Schwede

What a wonderful opportunity! I have lived by the belief that "tools are everything" for many years now...Teeny studio jam packed with more equipment than product, yet eager to have the chance to work with these brilliant bezels by Wanaree....My budget precludes any lofty purchases for the time being, but perhaps soon I'll be able to sell one of my baubles and buy this most necessary tool -- to make things a bit less cumbersome, to experience my dichroic cabs nesting beautifully in a WT inspired bezel, to motivate even more unique pendants, rings and/or mini treasures...Please accept my entry in your so very generous contest, as I'll sit with all my digits crossed until the drawing! it's been a lifetime since I've won anything "tangible" and I'm hoping the luck wheel might spin my direction -- this one time <3 Good luck to all eager entrants!!!phyllis michele greenhouse

I have been fascinated by the idea of using a cutting machine to make metal clay items. It allows for a level of uniform detail I am not sure you could easily produce by other means. I am saving up for a machine because of this.

I have watched wanaree' you tube presentation for both bezel and the scratch foam. I am looking for a sihoette cameo machine now on line. This really fits into my desire to enamel and it has. allowd me to be more creative and think outside the box. The details this machine allows you to create in your metal work is truly amazing. Artfully yours Christy Miller

About Me

I live in the beautiful mountains of northwestern North Carolina and I design and make jewelry using silver, copper, precious and semi-precious stones, glass and beads.
I also like to paint, collage, journal, garden and play with my cat.